East Coast Line (Sweden)

The East Coast Line (Swedish: Ostkustbanan) is a 402-kilometre (250 mi) long mainline railway in Sweden, linking the cities of Stockholm, Uppsala, Gävle and Sundsvall, as well as the suburbs north of Stockholm.

Electrification

The first part of the line was electrified in 1906–07 as a part of SJ's electrification trials. In 1926, the Western Main Line between Stockholm and Gothenburg was electrified. As Stockholm's main train depot is located in Hagalund, on the East Coast Line, this part was also electrified at the same time. The whole line was finally electrified in 1934. As all other lines in Sweden, East Coast Line is electrified with 15 kV 16 ²⁄₃ Hz AC.

Improvements

The line was extended to double track between Stockholm and Uppsala as early as in 1906. Some curvy sections was rebuilt in the 70's and the 80's, but most of the improvements were done in the 90's, with the introduction of the tilting high-speed train X2000. In the middle of the 90's, the line was completely overloaded with heavy commuter and long distance services north of Stockholm. In 1996, the work started on the Arlanda Line, a loop line which increased the distance with 3 km. With the introduction of 3 extra trains per hour between Stockholm and Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, the line was extended to four tracks between Stockholm and Skavstaby. This also resulted in increased speeds, from 160 to 200 kilometres per hour (99 to 124 mph). In Skavstaby, the old line, which goes over Märsta, diverges from the new line. Märsta serves as the terminus for most of the commuter services.

Traffic

Ostkustbanan is the busiest line in Sweden, with 60 trains per hour north of Stockholm. Here is a list of trains which use the line:

X2000: Stockholm – Falun, Sundsvall, Östersund and Härnösand, via Arlanda. InterCity: Stockholm - Mora, Falun and Östersund/Duved, via Arlanda. Night Trains: Stockholm - Luleå, Kiruna/Narvik, Åre. Mostly over Märsta. Regional Trains: Uppsalapendeln. Runs every half hour between Stockholm - Uppsala. Calls at Märsta. Commuter Trains: (Södertälje) - Stockholm - Märsta. Freight trains: To all parts of middle and northern Sweden.

Operating speeds

The two express-tracks north of Stockholm permits running at the Swedish maximum of 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph). The local tracks is limited to 130 to 160 kilometres per hour (81 to 99 mph). Between Uppsala and Gävle, which are double track, except a bottleneck south of Gävle, there are sections which allow for 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph). North of Gävle, the line consists of mostly single track, and the speed is therefor lower.

Branch Lines

There are a few branch lines.